Bowling ball handling and return mechanism



Dec- 13, 1960 A. -I I-:VENDosKl 2,964,318

BOWLING BALL HANDLING AND RETURN MECHANISM Filed June 1o, 1957 I 2 sheets-sheet ll 2" V 541 FIG. l

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lNvENroR ALFRED E. LEVENDOSKI ATT NEY United" States Patent i BOWLING` BALL HANDLING AND RETURN MECHANISM .t Alfred E. Levendoski, Depew, N.Y., assigner to American Machine and Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 10, 1957, Ser. No. 664,760

13 Claims. (Cl. 273-49) ""'Ths invention relates to bowling ball handling and r return mechanisms, and more particularly to apparatus ,9perative Vto return a bowling ball delivered into its range of 'operation from a pit of a bowling alley to a player at the head of a bowling alley.

jlnarnany bowling establishments, it is customary to provide?. common ball return for use with two adjacent ly ,bowling alleys,v the ballreturn being located between a: `two"alleys. With this type of arrangement, when balls i are delivered from the plt of the alleys to the bowling "ball return either'rnanually by a pin boy or by mechanical ,-means, s-uch as ,disclosed in Zuercher et al. Patent No. i`12,765,172, dated October 2, 1956, for Bowling Ball Han- ..dling `and Return Mechanism, such balls are elevated ',-to a ball discharge position at some distance above the .f'pit, and delivered onto a bowling ball return runway ihaving a downvswee'p sectn-'alr'ig'which'the balls roll `...yonto the returnrunwayextending along the alley and jnally come to rest in a ball return rack at the head iend ofa bowling'alley. l Y

According to the invention, however, mechanism is Lprovided which eliminates the necessity of raising Aeach ball to an elevated position for gravity return to the head end of an alley because of the provision of positive means which engages each ball delivered from the pit .of a single alley or the pits of adjacent bowling alleys which is operative to propel each ball positively along the ball return `runway which extends along the alley and thence to a ball storage rack where balls are accessi- ,ble to the players.V v j As shown herein for purposes of illustration, my vimproved bowling ball return mechanism is shown in combination with two side by side bowling alleys having Va common ball return runway.

It is an object oflthe invention to provide an improved bowling ball handling and return mechanism for use lwith bowling alleys in effecting a substantially straighttout direct return of each ball to the playing end of a "Ebowling alley.4

It isa further "object 'of the invention to provide a mechanism adapted to receive bowling balls from the pits of two adjacent bowling alleys and wherein means are provided for engaging and propelling each ball along ythe bowling ball return runway which extends along and `parallel `to two adjacent bowling valleys into apstorage rack at the head of the bowling alleys.

The invention isfurther characterized by the provision .of a positively acting bowling ball return device in the Vform of a 4relatively slowly driven wheel provided with `a pneumatic tire. When a ball is engaged by the tire and pressed thereby against a portion of the runway, the "wheel is forced upwardly against the tension of a spring Vforming a part of the mechanism which stores sufficient energy to accelerate the ball when Vthe latter moves Vfrom beneath the tire onto the open runway track which .extends along the alley or alleys for return to the ball `fstorage rack at the "head of the bowling alley or alleys riwhereit is available for use by the player.

"ment 'plate' 20.

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With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view,A the invention consists in certain'combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which like character of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. l is a side elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention as employed with two adjacent bowling alleys.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View taken on line 3--3 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a View taken on line 44 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a View taken on line 5 5 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional end elevational view of a ball handling and return mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 7 7 in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figures 1 through 5, the bowling ball return mechanism selected to illustrate the invention is mounted between kickbacks K adjacent the pits P of two adjacent alleys (not shown). Mounted on opposed surfaces of kickbacks K, as viewed in Figures 2 and 3, are plates or side frames 10 supporting stationary shaft 12. A yoke support 14 is pivotally mounted with suitable bearing to shaft 12. Secured to upper end of yoke support 14 are suitable springs which function as described hereinbelow. In the illustrated embodiment the springs comprise a pluraLty of at metal stripsor leaves forming leaf springs, designated generally 16. As illustrated in Figure 2, two leaf springs 16 are used. As shown in Figures v1, 2, 4 and 5 the free ends of 'springs 16 rest against rod 18 which is Vsecured to adjustment plate 20; The edges of plate 20 are provided with su.table attaching means, such as hooks 22 (Figure 4), which when engaged in recesses 23 in iange 24 vof sideframes 10 provide a fulcrum point for adjust- Adjustment ratchet 26, generally U shaped is' pivotally mounted on lugs 27 supported in side frames'10.

In order to` increase o r decrease the preloading of springs 16, plate ,20 is depressed and lugs 28 on adjustment plate 20 (Figures 4 and `5) are thereby disengaged from the ratchet teeth of'adjustment ratchet 26. Adjustment ratchet 26 is then moved about its`pivot 27 away from adjustment plate 20. When the desired loading of springs 16 is eiected, ratchet 26 is moved in the opposite direction to Aengage lugs 28 with higher or lower teeth of adjustment ratchet 26 as the casemay be.

Sprocket 32 is fixed to and rotates with shaft 33 which is driven by gear motor 34, suitably mounted o u t support plate 35, carried by side frames 10, or any other suitable means. Sprocket 32 drives chain 36 which in turn drives compound sprocket 38 freely rotatably mounted on shaft 12. Compound sprocket 38 drives chain 40 which in turn drives sprocket 42 mounted on shaft 30, as shown in Figures l, 2, 3, 6, and 7; is supported in the lower spaced ends of yoke support 14.

Referring to Figure 6, sprocket 42 is fixed to and drives input housing 44 of over running spring clutch designated generally 46. The output housing 4S of over running spring clutch 46 is fastened to wheel rim 50 on which is mounted a ball engaging and propelling wheel l52 having a compressible peripheral surface preferably formed of sponge rubber or of pneumatic construction such as a conventional automobile tire. Rim 50 is attached to hub 56 rotatably mounted on shaft 30.

Coil spring 54 is wound around shaft 30 and is contained in input housing 44 and output housing 48 of over running spring clutch 46. As sprocket 42 is rotated in the direction of arrow A shown in Figure 1, input housing 44, being fixed to sprocket 42, rotates also. Coil spring 54, exerting outward pressure against the inside diameter of input housing 44, tends to become unwound as input housing 44 rotates in response to the rotation of sprocket 42. As coil spring 54 is unwound, frictional contact is established with the inside diameter of output housing 48 causing it to rotate in the same direction as that of input housing 44 and sprocket 42. Output housing 48, in turn, by means of the connections described heretofore, causes rim 50, hub 56 and wheel 52 to rotate in the same direction as sprocket 42 or that indicated by arrow A in Figure 1.

Brake shoes 58 provided Vwith brake linings 59, are pivotally mounted on support plate 60 of centrifugal brake designated generally 62 and are controlled by springs 64. Plate 68 is secured to and rotates with hub 56 while brake drum 66 isxed to shaft 30, such as by keying, and is stationary.

Wheel 52, preferably continuously driven at a slow rate of speed in the direction as indicated by arrow A in Figure l, rests against roller 68 rotatably mounted on shaft 70 supported in side frames 10. Rollers 68 acts as a downward limit stop for wheel 52 relative to the ball return track, designated generally 76 which is secured to brackets 78 xed to side frames 10.

Ball return track 76 has four functional surfaces. Referring-to Figure l, surface 80 is a straight line surface pitched downwardly from the rear of the unit; i.e., the rear of kickbacks K or pit P to its junction point with surface 82. Surface 82 is a concave surface starting from a point tangent to surface .80 which if continued, would intersect the periphery of wheel 52 in its nonoperative yposition adjacent roller 68. Surface 84 is a concave surface having a radius larger than that of wheel 52, and positioned so kthat the distance between the periphery of wheel 52 and surface 84 becomes greater in the direction of ball travel along ltrack 76, vthereby preventing the periphery of wheel 52 and surface 84 from occupying concentric positions. Surface 86 can be straight, convex, concave, or a combination thereof depending on the vertical height of ball return track 76.

A bowling ball or balls B delivered to-the bowling ball handling and return mechanism from pit P of a bowling alley or alleys on either side of said mechanism is received on surface 80, and rolls by gravity, in the direction indicated by the arrow D V(shown in Figure l) until it contacts surface 82 and is engaged by the compressible peripheral surface or tire of wheel 52. Upon reaching surface 82 the ball is held between the outer periphery or tireof wheel 52 and surface 82 and the rotary motion and speed of wheel 52 is imparted by frictional engagement to ball B which is rolled upwardly on surface 82. Wheel 52, under load by the preadjusted tension of spring 16, tends to restrict the spacing between the lowermost point on the periphery or tire of wheel 52 and surface 82 permitting an apparatus embodying the invention to engave and propel bowling balls of .varying diameters and weights.

Since the distance between the lowermost point on the perinherv of wheel 52 and surface 82 is smaller than' the diameter of a bowling ball, as ball B is rolled up surface 82 as indicated by the broken lines, Figure 1, yoke support 14 is pivoted about shaft 12, raising wheel 52 to position 80 as indicated in broken lines. Figure l. When wheel 52 assumes position 80,` spring 16 is placed under further tension and becomes an energy storing device until ball B is rolled onto surface 84. As ball B passes the transition point between surfaces 82 and 84, the energy stored in spring 16 is released and imparted to ball B through voke support 14 and the compressible peripherv of wheel S2. Surface 84 is constructed so that its contour will generally follow rather than break sharplv away from the periphery of wheel S2, insuring that both rotational and linear-velocity are imparted to `-ball B when springl16 discharges its storedenergy.

As spring 16 discharges its energy wheel 52 is rotated faster than its driven speed, causing clutch 46 to disengage preventing damage to the driving mechanism. This is accomplished by output housing 48, which when rotated about spring 54 tends to wind spring 54, thereby decreasing the outside diameter of spring 54, and reducing frictional contact between spring 54 and the inside diameters of housings 48 and 44. The increased rotational velocity of wheel `52 further insures imparting of rotational as wellas linear energy to ball B.

Ball B assumes position as indicated by solid lines in Figure l, wheel 52 returns to its position adjacent roller 68 and ball B ceases contact withthe periphery of wheel 52 having been imparted with sullicient linear and rotational energy to travel onto surface 86 for return to a ball storage rack at the head of a bowling alley or alleys. Surfcce 86 can be made to conform to any vertical height permitting use of a ball return mechanism embodying this invention in conjunction with ball return tracks of varying vertical heights.

The inertial forces of bowling balls propelled by wheel 52 will vary according to vtheir respective weights. However, the actual ball speed along return track 76 must be controlled to prevent damage to the associated ball checks (not shown) at the head end of the alley. This is accomplished by the centrifugal brake mounted on wheel 52. When wheel 52 has reached a pre-determined speed, the centrifugal force present at that speed acts on pivotally mounted brake shoes 58 overcoming the tension in springs 64 causing brake linings 59 on brake shoes 58 to come into frictional contact with brake drum 66. This has the effect of holding the maximum speed of wheel 52 constant. even though the resistive forces of bowling balls propelled by wheel 52, vary thereby controlling the ball speed along return track 76.

After bowling ball B is propelled by vwheel 52 along return track 76, wheel 52 is rotated faster than itsdriven speed, as described hereinabove, -as it assumes its nonoperative position adjacent roller 68. Roller 68 is preferably of high inertial construction which operates to decelerate wheel 52 -when engaged thereby to its vdriven speed, ensuring proper contact between the periphery of wheel 52, surface 82 and the next succeeding ball.

A ball spacing mechanism, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, is provided in the present invention to insure adequate spacing between succeeding balls held and propelled by the novel ball return mechanismrthereby preventing any collision of balls and ball damage. Rod 88, generally U shaped, and arm v90, generally a single rod, are fixed to shaft 92 as by welding. Shaft 92 is pivotally supported in side frames 10. When ball B contacts surface 82, it also contacts and depresses arm 90 which fixed to rod 88 and pivotally mounted on shaft 92, when depressed, raises rod 88 preventing succeeding balls from entering the ball return mechanism until ball B passes the transition point between surfaces 82 and 84, at whi^h time ball B no longer contacts arm 90. Since rod 88 is substantially heavier than rod 90, rod 88 pivots either by gravity or the depressing force created by the next succeeding ball B to a recess provided in track 76, thereby permitting ball B to roll from surface onto surface 82. When there are no balls occupying the position of ball B on surface 80, rod88 will pivot about shaft 92 bv gravitational action alone into'recess in track 76 making theY ball return Ymechanismvoperativevforthe next bowling ball received in pits Prof either alley.

What I claim is:

l. Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for vuse with a bowling alley having a pit at one endan alley kickback, having a ball opening/through which a ball may be delivered out of said pit, a'track located adjacent said pit having a ball-receiving portion and a ball-return portion, a rotatable wheel provided with a compressible peripheral surface located above said track,a frame supporting said wheel, `a rotatablestopI for engagingisaid impressible peripheral surface limiting vthe downward j movement of said wheel relative to said track, means mounting said frame for vertical movement of said wheel relative to said track and means for driving said wheel.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 including means connected to said frame for yieldably urging bowling balls along said ball-return portion of said track.

3. The invention delined in claim l wherein said means mounting said frame includes a `shaft supported in said kickback pivotally connected to the upper end of said frame. f

4. In a bowling alley having a pit at one end'. a bowl-l ing ball handling and return apparatus comprising a ballreceiving and return track adjacenthsad pit, a rotatable wheel provided with a resilient tire positioned above said track, a frame supporting said rotatable wheel in spaced relation above said track, a resilient energy-storing and releasing device, means attaching said resilient device to said frame and means for rotating said wheel whereby when a ball on said track is engaged by said wheel, said wheel moves upwardly away from said track and energy is stored in said device, said device being operative to release said stored energy in response to the movement of said ball out of engagement with said wheel and thereby to accelerate the movement of said ball along said track.

5. In a bowling alley having a pit at one end, a bowling ball handling and return apparatus comprising a ballreceiving and return track adjacent said pit, a rotatable wheel provided with a resilient tire positioned above said track, a frame supporting said rotatable wheel, a transverse check roller to limit downward movement of said wheel relative to said track, a resilient energy-storing and releasing device, means attaching said resilient device to said frame and means for rotating said wheel whereby when a ball on said track is engaged by said wheel, said wheel moves upwardly away from said track and energy is stored in said device, said device being operative to release said stored energy in response to the movement ot' said ball out of engagement with said wheel and thereby to accelerate the movement of said Kball along said track.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 including a mem- '.ber comprised of oiset sections, a shaft supported in said -Ltrack adjacent said ball-receiving section and pivotally :mounting said member at the point of oifset operative Q'to engage bowling balls as they are received onto said ball-receiving section and to space the delivery of said balls into engagement by said tire and said ball-return :section of said track.

7. IIn a bowling alley having a pit at one end, an alley kickback having a ball opening, a bowling ball handling :and return mechanism comprising a track adjacent said pit having a ball-receiving section adjacent and below said 'ball-opening in said kickback, a contiguous upwardly inclined section, a transition point, a second contiguous upwardly inclined portion of lesser inclination co-acting with a ball-return portion of said track, a rotatable wheel located above said inclined portions of said track pro- `vided with a pneumatic tire, a support mounting said wheel in spaced relation above said track, means for driving said wheel, an energy-storing and releasing de- `vice, means mounting said device in spaced relationship 'with said tire and said inclined sections of said track whereby, as a bowling ball is gripped by said tire and vpropelled along said first inclined portion of said track, said tire imparts energy to said device, said device being operative to release said energy to said tire as said ball passes said transition point onto sai-d second inclined portion of said track, said tire thereby propelling said ball along said ball-return portion of said track.

8; Bowling ball handling and return apparatus for use with a bowling alley having a pit at one end, an alley kickback having a ball-opening through which a ball may `roll out of said pit, a track located adjacent said pit having a ball-receiving 'section adjacent and below said' ball-opening and a ball-return section,` said ball-return section provided with an inclined portion adjacent the ball-receiving portion and a second contiguous portion of lesser inclination, a rotatable wheel with a pneumatic tire positioned above said track for engaging vballs delivered thereto by sai-d ball-receiving section of said track and propelling said balls along said ballreturn section A,of `said track, a frame supporting said wheel in spaced vrelation above said track means for driving said wheel, a spring means comprising a plurality of elongated resilient laminae, means mounting said laminae on said frame in spaced relationship with said tire and said inl,clined sections of said track whereby said laminae are compressed by said tire assaid bowling balls are gripped by said tire Vand propelled along said iirst inclined portion of said ball-return section of said track, said laminae being operative, upon the release of said compression, to impart acceleration to said balls through said tire as said gripped balls pass the point of transition between said iirst and second inclined portions of said track, thereby urging said balls along said track to the head-end of said alley.

9. Bowling ball handling and return mechanism for' use with two .adjacent bowling alleys each of said alleys; having a pit at one end and alley kickbacks at opposite.' sides of said pit, provided with a ball opening through-4 which a ball may roll out of said pit, a track locatedi adjacent said pits having a ball receiving section adja cent and below said ball openings and a ball-return sec-` tion, said ball-return section provided with a peak por-- tion and an alternate valley-like portion of said track, ai rotatable wheel with a pneumatic tire, positioned above a said track for engaging balls on said track and urging; said balls along said track, a frame supporting said wheell in spaced relation above said track, an elongated resilient laminar spring device, means mounting said spring: device on said frame in spaced relationship above saidi tire and said peak portion of said track whereby said spring device is compressed by said tire as said balls atei gripped by said tire and urged over said peak portioni of said ball-return section, said spring release being oper-- ative upon the release of said compression to impart ac celeration to said ball through said tire as said engagedl ball passes said peak portion into said valley-like por-- tion of said track, and onto the portion of said ball-return: track extending to the head-end of said alley.

l0. In a bowling alley having a pit at one end, a bowl-- ing ball handling and return mechanism comprising a ball-A receiving and return track adjacent said pit, a rotatable wheel having a ball-engaging and propelling tire locatedi, above said track for engaging and propelling a bowling: ball along said track from said pit to the head end off said alley, a frame supporting said wheel, a free-wheeling` clutch for driving said wheel comprising a coil springt: and split housing mounted on said wheel, means for driving said clutch, a self-actuating centrifugal brake mounted?. on said wheel for limiting the speed of said wheel, and 2L- spring means mounted on said frame urging said wheel? into operative position relative to said track, said spring; means being operative to rotate said wheel faster thans driven speed upon the release ofia bowlingball by sail wheel whereby said ball is accelerated towarclutlrep,head?` end of said alley.

11. In a bowling alley having a pit at one end, a bowling ball handling and return mechanism comprising a ball-receiving and return track adjacent said pit, a rotatable wheel located above said track, a frame swingably supporting said wheel, means for driving said wheel, a spring means comprising a plurality of elongated re-` silient members secured at one end to said frame, a lever mounted adjacent the free ends of said resilient mem-- bers, a ratchet pivotally. supported for engaging said lever in a plurality of positions increasing or decreasing, as desired, the tension in said spring means in accordancel www.;

with the relative position of the free-` ends of said resilient mem bers and saisi, wheel- 12. Theinventi'omdeiiged inclaim 11 wherein said lever includeshayplate .freely mounted-at one end and locatedV above the free ends of said. resilient members, an elongated member secured to said plate and positioned adjacent and transverse `to said free ends of said resilient members. 9

13. In a bowlingalley having a pit at one end, a bowling ball handling and return mechanism comprising a ballreceiving and return track adjacent, said pit, a rotatable wheel located above said track for engagingand urging bowling balls along said trackk from said pit'v to'the head end of said alley, free wheeling` drive means mounted on said wheel, a frame supporting said wheel, operating mechanism for driving said drive means, said operating mechanism including means for rotating said wheel faster than its, drivnsspeedfupon releaseof.l a bowling ball engaged by said `wheel'whereby said released bowlin'gl ball is accelerated'toward the head end of said alley,

3 stop means mounted on saidv wheellimiting the over rotation of said wheel, and means normally urgingl saidA rotatable wheel intoL operative position relative to said track.

ReferencesCited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

